Blank-holding means



F. C. B. PAGE March 30,1926. 1,578,547-

BLANK HOLDING MEANS Filed Nov. 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 70 FLU/D SUPPLYMarch 30 1926. F. c. B. PAGE BL QNK HOLDING MEANS 4 Sheets-Shet :5

Filed Nov. 26, 1924 March 30 1926. 1,578,547

F. c. B. PAGE Y BLANK HOLDING MEANS Filed Nov 26, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 4 70 FL (/10 SUPPLY Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. B. PAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO 1'}. W. BLISS COMPANY,A 003- PORA'IION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

BLANK-HOLDING MEANS.

Application filed November 26, 1924. Serial No. 752,369.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. B. PAGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York. in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blank- HoldingMeans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid pressure cushions for 1159 111 'drawlngin one operation metal shapes or shells of a greater depth than isordinarily possible to draw in one operation, and is particularlyadapted though not necessarily limited in its use in connection withwhat is termed a single action mechanical press.

In presses of this character there is provided a plurality of draw ringsor blank holding means which co-operate with the die, the blank beingheld between the draw rin or blank holding means and the ram during theforming or shaping of the article. These draw rings are usually arrangedone within the other, one of the rings being held by fluid pressure,against operation while, the other ring is moved during the firstportion of the cycle of operation of forming or shaping the blank overthe stationary die and over the other die ring". After the completion ofthe first portion of the cycle of operation in forming or shaping thearticle, and during the same stroke of the rain, the article is furthershaped, over the stationary die, the inner draw ring being then movedagainst the fluid pressure acting thereupon.

The fluid pressure upon the inner draw ring, must of necessity be ofsuch a degree that the ring will not be moved during the first portionof the formation of the article, with the result that during thatportion of the cycle of operation of the press in'which the inner drawring is moved, the rain must overcome the excess fluid pressure tocomplete the formation or shaping of the article. This results in astrain upon the crank shaft and clutches and reduces the capacityor-scope of the press.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome theseditficulties and objections and to provide improved means means isallowed to remain movable under the action of the ram, and to provide improved means for unlocking or releasing the ocked member to allow it tomove at a predetermined point or time in the cycle of operation'of thepress.

A further object is to provide improved means operating automatically tolock one of the blank holding means against movement and toautomatically unlock or release the blank holding means for movement. 7

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the feat-uresofnoveltyin substantially the construction, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts hereinafter" more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and inwhich Figure 1 is a "ertical, longitudinal sectional View of a blankholding means constructed in accordance with the pinciples of thisinvention, and showing the parts in their initial or starting position.

Figure 2 is a view slmilar to Figure 1 showing the parts in anotherposition.

Figuie 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 2. T V Figure 4 isa sectional view 4-4, Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the cushioning mechanism.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the cam member for controlling themovement of the actuating means for the locking mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designatesthe bolster plate of a press, having mounted thereupon a stationary diemember 11, with which a cutting member 12 co-operates.

Co-operating with the dies is another die member 13 carried by the ramor a movable part of the-press, and this die member 13 co-operates withthe member 12 to cut or shear the material 14 and is so shaped that itwill pass between the dies 11 and 12 to shape the .material over the die11, all -in the manner as well known in this art.

Encompassing the die 11 are a plurality of draw rings or blank holdingmembers taken on line 15-16, one arranged within the other, and

these members and 16 are respectively supported by means'of pins l7 and18 that? pass through the bed plate or bolster 10.

Supported beneath the bolster plate 10 which forms a closure for thecylinder and this plate or member is supported from the bolster or bedplate 10 in any desired or suitable manner such as by means of rods orbolts 22, which latterare threaded into the bolster plate 10 and alsopass through'the plate or member 21. Nuts or collais 23 are carried bythese rods or bolts 22 for holding the parts invposition.

The end 24 of the cylinder serves as a piston operating in the cylinder19, and 0 suitable-packing 25 may beprovided between the piston and thecylinder. v

Operating in the cylinder 20 is a piston 2 6 provided with suitablepacking rings I21. A piston rod 28 is connected with the piston 26 andpasses through the end 24 of the cylinder 20, suitable packing 29 beingprovided for the piston rod. This piston rod also passes through the end30 of the cylinder 19and a suitable packing. 31 is provided for thepiston at the point where it passes through the end of'the cylinder 19.The cylinder 20 is provided with an inlet 32 to which is connected asupply pipe 33 that receives a supply of fluid from any suitable source.The cylinder 19 is also provided with an opening 34, connected withwhich is a suitable pipe 35 adapted to be supplied with fluid from anysuitable source, and both of, these openings 32 and 34 serve as outletsfor the respective cylinders so that the fluid will flow into and out ofthe cylinders through the same respective openings.

Connected with the end of the piston 28 is an extension 36 preferably ofa tubular construction and carried by the extension 36 are inwardlyPIOJGCtlIlg flanges or portlons .tension 36 and pins 17 be depressedagainst 37 which are spaced from each other and are provided withparallel ribs 38 on the inner faces thereof. The extension 36 is of sucha length that it will not interfere with the reciprocating movement ofthe piston 26 and will move with the piston;

' The pins 17 which support the blank holding member or draw ring 15 andwhich pass through the bolster-plate '10, rest upon the end of theextension 36 so that when .the

.draw ring or-member 15 is depressed in a manner to be hereinafter setforth, the piston 26 will, through the medium of the exthe fluidpressure within the cylinder 20.

Swiveled or otherwise connected with the bolster 10 to depend therebelowis a member 39, havingribs orteeth 40. This member 39 passes between theflanges 37 and the tubular extension 36 and is provided with a head 42having a bifurcated portion 43 which extends through an opening 44 inthe extension 36. An arm 45 is rotatably sup? ported upon a bar or rod46, the latter being threaded by one extremity into the plate or member21 as at 47, and the other extremity loosely passes into a socket 48 sothat the rod 46 may be adj usted longitudinally. The arm 45 may be heldin position by means of collars 49 on opposite sides thereof, and

which collars are secured to the rod 46.

Supported by the cylinder 30 is a member- 50 which is preferably hollowand through which member the extension 36 passes, and

on the end ofwhich member 50 the pins 18,

which support the draw ring or blank gripping member 16, rest. When themember 16 is depressed by the die 13, the member .50

will also be depressed through the medium of the pins 18, and as themember 50'is lowcred-the cylinder 19 will be lowered against the fluidpressure therein. When the ram ascends, moving with it the die "13, thefluid pressure in the cylinder 19 will cause the latter to rise and withit the member 50.

This member 50 isprovided with a slot 51, having a cam shaped portion 52which is in alineinent with the opening 44 in .the member 36, andthrough which slot 41 the arm 45-.,projects so that the extremity of thearm 45 will stand within the bifurcation 43 in the head 42 of themember39.

If desired an anti-friction roller 53 may be'provided on the arm 45where it passes through the slot 51. 1

Shoes or members 54 may be provided for assisting in holding thecylinders19 and 20 in'position when the cushion is connected toa pressand held 111 an inclined position These members 54 may be of any desiredconfiguration and .are adapted. to. be held against rotation in anysuitable manner such as by means of dowel pins 55.

The member50 may if desired, be provided with face plates 56 secured inposition by'means of suitable screws or bolts 57. This bifurcation 43 onthe head 42 of the member 39, the latter being swiveled or rotatablymounted upon the bolster plate 10, and as the member 50 with the camgroove 51 therein, together with the plate 56-and the'cam groove 58therein are reciprocated with the cylinder 19, the arm 45 will be swungabout its pivot during the reciprocation of the cylinder19, and as thisarm moves about its pivot it will rotate the member 39. The cam slots 51and 58 are so located that when the member 39 has passed entirelythrough the flange or member 37 when the cylinder 19 is at the limit ofits upward movement, the member 39 will be rotated sothat the ribs 4Othereon will move into positions directly beneath the respective ribs onthe member or flange 37, causing the proximate ends of these ribs toabut and thereby lock the piston 26, piston rod 28, extension 30, pins17 and draw ring or blank holding member against movement and in aposition that the edge of the draw ring or member 15 will besubstantially flush with the upper surface of the die 11. This is theposition the parts will assume at the beginning of the opera tion-of theforming of the article and in the position as shown in Figure 1.

- lVhen the ram descends carrying with it the die 13, the edge of thedie 13 will co-opends with the edge of the member 12 and the material 14will be cut to the proper size. A further lowering movement ofQthe ramwill cause the material 14 to be gripped between the die 13 and the drawring or blank holding member 16. The draw ring. or blank holding member16 being locked positively against movement with respect to the die 11by means of the members 39 and 37 as before described, a furthermovement of the ram in a downward direction will cause the material 14to be shaped over the die 11 and the member 15. This will depress thedraw ring or blank holding member 16 against the fluid pressure in thecylinder 19, through the medium of the pins 18 and member 50. At the"same time and a's-the member 50 descends at a predetermined time in thecycle of operation of the press, the cam grooves '51 and 58 will operateupon the arm 45'to swing the latter about its pivot and this will rotatethe member 39 to cause the ribs thereon to move into a position inalinement with the grooves between the ribs in the member 37, and theribs on the member 37 in alinement with the grooves between the ribs 40on the member 39. This operation willunlock the member 36, piston rod 28and piston 26, as well as the draw ring or blank holding;v member 15.

. A further movement of the ram in the same direction will then causethe material to be shaped over the die 11, the draw ring or blankholding member 15 being then depres ed by the action of the die 13,against the fluid pressure in the cylinder 20, through the medium of thepins 17, extension 36, piston rod 28 and piston 26.

The member 40 will then remain in the same position until the completionof the stroke of the ram, and also upon the return stroke of the ram anddie '13 until the member 37 has passed beyond the member 39. At thistime in the cycle of operation the cam' grooves 51 and 58 will againswing the arm about its pivotto rotate'the member 39 so as to positionthe ribs 40 thereon in alinement withthe ribs on the member 37" andthereby lock the draw ring or blank holding member 15 against operation.4

Obviously the timing of the rotation of the member 30 may be controlledby adjusting the plate 56 upon the member 50.

lVith this improved construction it will he manifest that it is possibleto draw or shape metal shells of a greater depth in one operation thanhas heretofore been possible on a single action mechanical press.

It will also be manifest that with this improvement, the size of thepress'used may be reduced for the reason that the crank of the press isnot subjected to the spring or fluid pressure wlnch has heretofore beennecessary to hold the draw ring or blank holding member 15 in positionduring a portion of the cycle of operation of the press, as the member15 will be positively locked and when unlocked the fluid pressure whichhas to be overcome by the action: of the ram is only sufficient torender the draw ring or blank holding means active to grip the ma.-terial with sufiicientforce to prevent wrinkling and at the same timepermit the material to flow during the forming operation.

" Furthermore by the use of the present inn e n n I ventlon, thenecessity-fol; providing balancing means for the necessary pressuresrequired during one stage of the operation of the press, will beobviated.

While the preferred form of the invention has'been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in.the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims. without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A draw press including a plunger, a

plurality of blank holding means adapted to successively cooperate withthe plunger to clamp the Work, means for positively looking one of thesaid blank holding means against operation during the operation of theother blank holding means, the second plurality of blank holding meansadapted to successively cooperate with the plunger to clamp the work,means for positively locking one of the said blank holding means againstoperation during the operation of the other blank holding means, thesecond recited. means including co-operating elements adapted forrelative reciprocation and relative rotation to lock and unlock thercspective blank holding means, an actuator separate from the blankholding means and the said locking means, and means responsive in itsoperation to the operation of one of the said blank holding means torender said actuatoractive for imparting such relative'movcment to thesaid elements. 3. A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blankholding means adapted to successivelyco-opeiate with the plunger toclamp the work, means for positively locking one of the said blankholding means against operation during the operation of the. other blankholding means, the second recited means including co-operating el'ementsrelatively rotatable one with relation to the other to lock and unlockthe respective blank holding means, means separate from the lockingmeansand the blank holding means and operating automatically to impart suchrelative movement to the said element,'and means embodying cam devicesadapted to be set wherebythe time of operationof-the last recited meansin the cycle of operation of the press may be varied.

.4. A draw .press including a plunger, a

. plurality of blank holding means adapted to successivelyco-operate'withv the plunger and to release the elements for relativemovement.

5'. A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blank holding meansadapted to'successively co-operate with the plunger to clamp the work,means for positively locking one of the; blank-holding means againstoperation during the operation of the other blank holding means, thesecond recited means including two co-operating elements relativelymovable with respectto each other in diflerentplanes, an actuatingdevice and means embodying adjustable cam like devices between which thesaid actuating device operates for automatically controlling therelative movement of said ele- "ments vin one of said planes to locksaidthe elements.

elements against relative movement in the other of said planes and tounlock said elements for relative movement in the last recited plane. ap l 6. A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blank holdingmeans adapted to successively co-operate with the plunger I to clamp thework, means for positively locking one of the blank holding meansagainst operation during the operation of the other blank holding means,the second recited means including two co-operating elements relativelymovable with respect to each other in difl'erent planes, means embodyingan actuating device for automaticallycontrolling the relative movementof said elements in.one of said planes to lock said elements" againstrelative movement in the other of said planes and to unlock-saidelements forrelative movement in the last recited plane, and meanscontrolling the said actuating device and adapted to be set whereby thetimeof operation of the said controlling means in the cycle of operationof the press may be varied.

' 7. A drawpress including a plunger, a

plurality of blank holding means, adapted to successively co-operatewith the plunger to clamp the work, means for positively locking one ofthe said blank holding means against operation during-the operation ofthe other blank holding means, the second recited means including twoco-operating 7 elements respectively provided with grooves andprojections, the projections on one of said elements being movablethrough the groove in the other element, and means for imparting arelative rotary movementto the said elements to move the saidprojections endsof the elements to abutto prevent a relative .movementofthe said elements and to move the projections and grooves into registerto permit such relative movement of 8. A drawpress plurality of blankholding means adapted toclamp the work, means for positively locking oneof the-said blank holding means to successively co operate with theplun'ger v against operation during the operation of .the other blankholding means, the second recited means including two co-operatin'gelements respectively provided with grooves and projections, theprojections on one of said elements being movable through the grooves inthe other element, and means responsive in itsoperation to the operationof one of the said blank holding means for imparting a relative rotarymovement to the said elements to move the said projections and groovesout of alinement to cause the ends of said elements to abut to prevent arelative movement of the said elements and to move the projections andgrooves into or and grooves out of ahnement to cause the including aplunger, a

register to permit such relative movement of the elements.-

9; A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blank holding meansadapted to successively co-operate with the plunger to ments to move thesaid projections and grooves out of alinement to cause the ends of thesaid elements to abut to prevent a relative movement of the saidelements and to move the projections and grooves into register to permitsuch'rclative movement of the elements.

10. A draw press including a plunger,a plurality of blank holding meansadapted to successively co-operate with the plunger to clamp the work,means operable to positively lock one of the blank holding means againstoperation during the operation of the other blank holding means, thesaid locking means including telescoping members provided respectivelywith co-operating ribs and grooves, said members being movable out oftelescoping relation, an actuating device for relatively rotating saidmembers one "with respect to the other to displace the co-operating ribsand grooves to lock the members against reciprocating movement, andmeans for actuating said actuator.

11. A draw press including a plun'ger, a plurality of blank holdingmeans adapted to successively co-operate with the plunger to clamp thework, means operable to positively lock one of the blank holding meansagainst operation during the operation of the other blank holding means,the said locking means including telescoping member's providedrespectively with co-operating ribs and grooves, said members beingmovable out of telescoping relation, an actuating device for relativelyrotating said members one with respect to the other to displace theco-operating ribs and grooves to lock the of November,

members against reciprocating movement, and a cam device operativelyconnected with one of said blank holding means for actuat-v ingsaidactuator. i

12. A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blank holding meansadapted to successively co-operate with the plunger to clamp the work,means operable to positively lock one of the blank holding means againstoperation during the operation of the other blank holding means, thesaid locking means including two members, a projection on one of themembers and a groove in the other member to receive the projection topermit longitudinal reciproca 131011016 said members one with respect tothe other, one of said members being rotatable, a pivotally mountedarm-operatively connected with the-rotatable member for rotating it, andmeans responsive in its operation to the operation of one of'the blankholders for swinging said arm to displace the said rib with respect tosaid groove to lock said members against relative reciprocation.

13. A draw press including a plunger, a plurality of blank holding meansadapted to successively co-operate with the plunger to clamp the work,means operable to posi tively lock one of the blank holding meansagainst operating during the operation of the other blank holding means,the said locking means including two members, a projection on one of themembers and a groove in the other member to receive the projection topermit longitudinal reciprocation of said members one with respect tovthe other, one of said members being rotatable, a pivotally mounted armoperatively connected with the rotatable member for rotating it, andmeans responsivein itsoperatipn to the operation of one of the blanksholders for swinging said arm to displace the said rib with respect tosaid groove to lock said members against relative reciprocation, thelast recited means including a cam device adapted to be set, whereby thetime in the cycle of operation of the press at which the said arm isactuated, may be raised. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification, onthis 21st day FRANK C. B. PAGE.

